CEHBates407

April 20, 1917.

Dear Ed: –

I cant begin to tell you
how glad I was to get your card
of congratulations. I only wish it
had been longer. Rather hoped to
see you on the west coast after
graduation but we didn't have
any say about where we wanted
to go but I'm tickled to death with
my billet and couldn't ask for more.
Everything exceeded my ideas and the
officers are the best ever. I wish I
could tell you all about the ship
and where we are but as you may
have noticed the letter is censored
and such things don't go.

My family in California wrote
that Dick and Norman were sick
and I was sorry to hear about it.
I guess the Mexican coast is pretty
mean that way but I'd take a